The electric guitar has been a cornerstone of modern music since its invention in the 1930s. Since then, the electric guitar has been a powerful force in the evolution of popular music. Its sound, versatility, and ability to adapt to any genre of music have made it a favourite instrument of countless music icons throughout the decades.
In this article, we'll talk about five of the greatest players to have used the instrument, the electric guitars they loved playing, and why they deserve to be called the top five greatest guitar players of all time.
Jimmy Page
We describe Jimmy Page's playing as expressive, tasty and endlessly melodic. Jimmy Page cut his teeth with studio work in London and, by the mid-1960s, had become one of England's most sought-after session guitarists. In 1968, Jimmy Page formed Led Zeppelin, one of the biggest and most enduring rock groups of all time.
Page played several guitars over the years but is most famous for playing his heavily modified Fender Telecaster, a Danelectro 3021, a Gibson Les Paul DeLuxe, and the double-neck Gibson EDS-1275, which he most famously played in live performances of Stairway to Heaven.
Brian May
Brian May is an English musician, singer, songwriter, and astrophysicist who is best known as the lead guitarist of the rock band Queen. His playing style is often characterised by its technical precision and melodic complexity, combining classical, blues, and hard rock elements.
May achieves his sound signature through his distinctive and skilful playing and the Red Special, a homemade guitar he and his father fashioned out of an old oak table and other household items.
Kurt Cobain
Indeed, Kurt Cobain is on a different level in terms of virtuosic ability than the other four in this list, but we argue that guitar playing is more than just about technical ability. It's also about effectively and almost effortlessly communicating to an audience with your instrument.
Nirvana's Kurt Cobain pushed the instrument's boundaries and changed how people think about guitar playing. His unique playing style blended punk and alternative rock and influenced the grunge music scene of the 1990s. He was known for playing (and highly modifying) Fender Mustangs, Fender Jaguars, Fender Stratocasters, and Gibson SGs.
John Frusciante
John Frusciante is an American musician and singer-songwriter best known as the guitarist of the alternative rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers. He has been a band member since 1988 and has released nine studio albums with them.
He is acclaimed for his technical proficiency and creative ability on the guitar, often combining elements of funk, jazz, and psychedelic rock in his playing. He is known for using various guitars, including the Gibson Les Paul and the Fender Stratocaster.
Jimi Hendrix
No greatest guitar players list is complete without Jimi Hendrix, widely regarded as among the most influential guitarists of all time. He revolutionized how the electric guitar was played, pioneering new techniques such as feedback, distortion, and wah-wah.
His improvisational style, combined with his unique use of effects, was groundbreaking and inspired generations of guitarists. He is widely credited with popularising the use of the Stratocaster and Les Paul guitars, as well as the use of amps to create new sounds. His influence is still felt today, and his music continues to inspire guitarists around the world.
Conclusion
Not everyone may agree with our list, but it is hard to deny the significant influence that all five have made on the history of electric guitar playing. All five have made music that millions still listen to today and have inspired countless other musicians to take up the instrument.
Want to play guitar like one of the greats? Well, you can start by playing a top-quality instrument. Head straight to Musicstreet, a local music shop in Cambridgeshire with an amazing collection of guitars and other accessories. Browse our shop today!
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